Judge who lead review said move will stop victims having to 'recite the most intimate and distressing details of their experiences before, potentially, a packed courtroom'
The public is being banned from attending serious sexual offences trials in Northern Ireland under new laws which have come into force.
* The extension of existing lifelong anonymity for victims of sexual offending for a period of 25 years after the victim has died; Permanent secretary at the Department of Justice Richard Pengelly said: “Sir John’s review concluded that the unrestricted access of the public to trials of serious sexual offences humiliated and intimidated complainants, and deterred victims of sexual crimes from reporting them to the police.
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